Tiff raised her hand to his cheek and kissed him. ‘Not unless it was breakfast at Greggs.’
Acknowledgements
I had it in my head that I would carefully write down who helped me, as they helped me, so that in the event of Sweatpants ever being published, I would have the list instantly to hand and not risk forgetting anyone. And then there is real life. So if I’ve forgotten anyone, I apologise profusely, but you were a star!
Going back to beginning, I need to thank my olds, Lisa and Bjørn Knappe for buying me all the books and feeding my love of reading. And for letting me loose when on holiday, to walk about talking to myself making up stories.
There are some women who have been key to my journey and need thanking, in historical order;
(Actually, NO thanks to my careers/English teacher, who said professional writing wasn’t for me and stalled me for ten years because I believed her.)
Big thanks to Tina Iacovelli who those ten years later pointed out that my reoccurring stress dream was a sign to get my bum on the seat and my fingers on the keyboard.
Huge thanks to Christina Walker, previously of the Sunday Times Travel section, who bought my first Confessions of a Tourist, which was massive boost, and then to Belinda Jones for picking my story to go into the first Sunlounger anthology and again in the second. It helped me focus where I should be writing and gain some self-belief. To Emma Beswetherick for your advice and also to Jo Unwin, for connecting me with my fabulous agent.
Ah, my fabulous agent Federica Leonardis, who got me, my characters and what I was trying to do from the word go, who kicks my butt when I am being a whiney wuss, and who praises me to a point of blushing when I get it right. Thank you for your editing wisdom, making this a better book, for being my wingman when we are both being introverts and for having my back when I need it. Thank you, thank you Lovely! All the spooky coincidences tells me this was fate. ALL the unicorns to you.
Huge thanks also to the gorgeous Charlotte Ledger, who picked Sweatpants up and loved it and was willing to take punt on something a little different. You made my dream come true. And to the HarperImpulse team, especially Claire Fenby (a wheelie bin?! Really?!) for handling my lemming Facebook questions, and Helen Williams and Genevieve Friar who waded through my typos and weird phrasing. And of course Holly Macdonald for the super cute cover art. You all rock.
To you, lovely reader – thank you. If you enjoyed it, fabulous! I’m beyond delighted (please please leave me a review). If not, no hard feelings, try the next one you might prefer it. xx
There may be writers who can sit alone in their garret, coughing up the words in solitude. I’m not that writer and there are more lovelies to be thanked for their long-time and daily support in pulling this story together.
Firstly to Suki Yamashita, my lovely critique partner, who has been my writing buddy since 2011. You see my words at their ugliest and you still manage to be complimentary, for which my ego is eternally grateful. Your kindness, generosity, encouragement and support has been vital and I am so grateful for it.
To my divine beta readers; Charlotte Knappe (did you find the dragons?), Elizabeth Dunn and Gillian Evans, who read the first draft and gave gold-dust feedback. You are my dream team.
To a third gorgeous Charlotte, Charlotte Vicary for your synopsis eye.
To the ladies of the Autumn ’17 Book Camp; Cesca Major, Cathy Bramley, Alex Brown, Holly Martin, Jo Quinn, Sarah Bennett and Brooke Winters, for your stories, experience and advice to a newbie. And to Basia Martin for feeding us. Cheers lovelies!
To Annette Stevens of Pole Attack, Aylesbury for the brilliant pole dancing ‘research’. I loved it in spite of you breaking my quads. And to the lovely Beth Lee for organising it all off the back of a fizzy night and a throw-away comment, and the First Avenue ladies who made our road trip such a blast.
To my Pilates coven- Sarah Rowntree, Mel Jamieson, Georgy Hales, and Gill Cotterell who have followed this journey and been the best weekly cheer-squad.
To my wonderful friends and wider family who have taken the time to ask how it’s going and woo-hooed each step. Special mentions to Nina, Izzy, Ailsa and Rosie for bringing fizz, and Beth again because fizz is our theme…
To my kids, Clan Hughes, who have had to put up with my distraction because I had too many brain tabs open and was beyond concocting so much as a shopping list. (You must have been delighted when Mormor said she’d cook for deadline week and you got proper food.) Thank you for your patience. There are kisses here for all of you. (What?? What’s with the unimpressed faces…? You were expecting cash???)
And to Ian who laughs with me, for giving me the time and support to give this a go and to see if I could make it happen. All my love as always x
Pernille Hughes has had many words printed in the Sunday Times, most proudly the word “boobs”. Seduced by the promise of freebies she took her first job in advertising, but left when Status Quo tickets was as good as it got. After a brief spell marketing Natural History films, she switched to working in Children’s television which for a time meant living in actual Teletubbyland, sharing a photocopier with Laa-Laa. Now, she lives in actual Buckinghamshire, sharing a photocopier with her husband and their four spawn. While the kids are at school she scoffs cake and writes in order to maintain a shred of sanity.
@pernillehughes
www.facebook.com/pernillehughesauthor
About HarperImpulse
HarperImpulse is an innovative, award-winning digital imprint. In the four years since launch, we have continually hit digital bestseller lists, hosted the UK’s first online romance festival, published into over ten countries and grown an exciting stable of commercial women’s fiction authors.
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Sweatpants at Tiffanie's Page 29